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Services:

Employment Programmes

Corporate Social Responsibility

Business Planning / Feasibility Studies

Social Enterprise Business Support

Financial Inclusion

Bespoke Third Sector Support

Work with Housing Associations

EDS NW - Corporate Social Responsibility

Over the past thirty years a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly important part of corporate governance, as businesses have had to demonstrate to both their shareholders and clients that their activities have a positive impact on society. CSR Statements are now expected to not only monitor the impact of a business’s activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities and stakeholders but also identify a positive programme of action. Over the past five years EDS has worked with a number of private sector partners to develop a pro-active approach to CSR.

The Enterprise Foundation
Client: Enterprise plc

In 2007 EDS established the Enterprise Foundation a ‘not-for-profit’ joint venture with Enterprise plc designed to demonstrate Enterprise’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. The role of the Enterprise Foundation is to work in partnership with the public sector and registered social landlords with the aim of delivering a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits to the communities which they serve. The range of initiatives delivered through the Foundation include: community support and investment programmes; employment programmes linking training to job opportunities on Enterprise contracts; environmental improvements on housing estates; financial and business planning for community and social enterprise businesses; and stakeholder consultation on service delivery.

Corpus Christi Work Related Education Programme
Client: Errigal Developments Limited

Economic Development Services was commissioned by a local businessman to provide funding advice and assistance to the head teacher and management team of his former school, Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Preston. The assignment focused on three specific activities:

The first two stages of the assignment were completed with the launch of an Innovative Work Related Learning Partnership linking Corpus Christi with Enterprise plc and the award of Specialist School Status - Technology and Sport. The final stage of the assignment identified opportunities for the school to benefit from recent changes in the Government’s approach to national education policy. A follow-on assignment focused on implementing the findings and recommendations.

Corpus Christi Vocational Education Centre, Preston
Client: NWDA and Enterprise Foundation

EDS provided advice and technical assistance (including the development of a business case) to Corpus Christi Sports and Technology College and its partner educational institutions for the development of a Vocational Education Centre located within the Corpus Christi Campus in Preston. This resulted in the development of an innovative Vocational Education Centre which: delivers the 14-19 Vocational Diploma in Engineering across Preston; offers complementary state-of-the-art facilities for the use of additional diploma providers; and provides a local employer/teacher resource centre and wider community facilities.

Alternative Education Project, Liverpool
Client: Enterprise Liverpool

The Alternative Education Project targeted young people who have in the past been excluded from school or find mainstream academic study problematic. The project focused on the provision of work-placement opportunities within Local Businesses for a number of excluded young people. The objectives and outcomes of the project are as follows:

SALT were contracted to provide numeracy, literacy and IT skills tuition for 12-14 year old excluded pupils by a number of the high schools in Liverpool. Their successful model is based upon a split day consisting of a morning session dedicated to the provision of skills training and an afternoon session focusing on sports. Although this scheme has proven to be successful in engaging excluded pupils in the education process, there were no resources to continue with this intensive support once the young people reached the age of 16 years and as a consequence some of the participants drifted back into delinquency.

The pilot project saw EDS team up with SALT and NW Community Service to provide a structured vocational training programme for former excluded young people aged between 16 and 19 years.

SALT selected 15 candidates for the programme and provided them with life skills and vocational training in partnership with NW Community Services. The training programmes focused upon anticipated future vacancies in Liverpool City Council’s Waste, Street Cleansing, Highways and Social Housing Maintenance Contracts and Enterprise plc’s Matchworks Customer Contact Centre (e.g. Call Centre Operator, Help Desk Agent, Admin Support Officer, and Resource Scheduler).

EDS were responsible for:

All of the 12 candidates who completed the programme found a positive introduction to the world of work and 2 of the trainees secured placements on the Enterprise Liverpool Transitional Employment Programme.